AI Research Scientist Jobs in California
AI Research Scientist jobs in California represent one of the most active and competitive markets in the country, concentrated heavily in machine learning, large language models, computer vision, and reinforcement learning across the technology, biotech, and defense sectors, with openings ranging from entry-level research roles to principal scientist positions. The largest hiring metros are San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Meta, and Qualcomm maintain major research operations. California's dense ecosystem of AI-focused research labs and university partnerships keeps demand consistently strong. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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AI Research Scientist, Multimodal Perception Responsibilities:
- Build models that can understand images and videos
- Conduct research and work with efficient vision encoders, multi-modal LLMs
- Define, build and benchmark new capabilities needed for the next generation of AI
- Train and optimize state-of-the-art machine learning and neural network methodologies
- Work with and create large datasets, and contribute to data annotation engines
Minimum Qualifications:
- Research Experience in deep learning, computer vision, robotics, or AI infrastructure
- Experience with Python and PyTorch
- Experience developing software and executing complex experiments
- Experience communicating research for public audiences of peers
- Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience solving complex problems and comparing alternative solutions, tradeoffs, and different perspectives to determine a path forward
- Demonstrated research and software engineering experience via an internship, work experience, coding competitions, or widely used contributions in open source repositories (e.g. GitHub)
- Research experience with efficiency as a focus
- Experience working and communicating cross functionally in a team environment
- Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by grants, fellowships, patents, as well as publications at leading workshops, journals or conferences such as CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, ICML, NeurIPS or similar
About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$122,000/year to $181,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.
AI Research Scientist, Multimodal Perception Responsibilities:
- Build models that can understand images and videos
- Conduct research and work with efficient vision encoders, multi-modal LLMs
- Define, build and benchmark new capabilities needed for the next generation of AI
- Train and optimize state-of-the-art machine learning and neural network methodologies
- Work with and create large datasets, and contribute to data annotation engines
Minimum Qualifications:
- Research Experience in deep learning, computer vision, robotics, or AI infrastructure
- Experience with Python and PyTorch
- Experience developing software and executing complex experiments
- Experience communicating research for public audiences of peers
- Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience solving complex problems and comparing alternative solutions, tradeoffs, and different perspectives to determine a path forward
- Demonstrated research and software engineering experience via an internship, work experience, coding competitions, or widely used contributions in open source repositories (e.g. GitHub)
- Research experience with efficiency as a focus
- Experience working and communicating cross functionally in a team environment
- Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by grants, fellowships, patents, as well as publications at leading workshops, journals or conferences such as CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, ICML, NeurIPS or similar
About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$122,000/year to $181,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.
See All 133+ AI Research Scientist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find AI Research Scientist JobsAI Research Scientist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
AI Research Scientist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Meta34
- ByteDance15
- TikTok11
- Bosch7
- Google7
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software15
- Manufacturing3
- Science & Research3
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals2
- Automotive1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in AI research scientist jobs across California.
- PhD or master's degree in computer science, machine learning, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated research experience with peer-reviewed publications or equivalent applied work
- Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
- Hands-on experience designing, training, and evaluating large-scale machine learning models
- Ability to translate research findings into production-ready systems or product improvements
- Strong communication skills for presenting technical findings to cross-functional California teams
AI Research Scientist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an ai research scientist in California?
Most ai research scientist roles in California require at minimum a master's degree, and the majority of positions at major labs expect a PhD in computer science, statistics, or a related field. California does not issue a state license for this role. Hiring decisions hinge on research output, including published work or a strong project portfolio, combined with demonstrated programming ability. UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, and UC San Diego are well-regarded feeder programs for California employers.
How much do AI research scientists make in California?
AI research scientists in California earn a median of about $159,100 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $88,920 for the lowest 10% to over $275,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire ai research scientists in California?
Employers hiring ai research scientists in California right now include Meta, ByteDance, and TikTok, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of major technology headquarters and dedicated AI research divisions means that both large platform companies and well-funded startups maintain consistent research hiring throughout the year.
Which California cities have the most ai research scientist jobs?
The cities with the most ai research scientist openings in California are San Jose, Menlo Park, and San Francisco. The San Francisco Bay Area drives the largest share of demand because of its density of large technology headquarters and AI research labs, while Los Angeles benefits from a growing cluster of media-tech and defense-adjacent AI employers, and San Diego draws demand from biotech and semiconductor companies with active machine learning research programs.
Are there remote ai research scientist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 30% of ai research scientist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the largely desk-based and collaborative-digital nature of research work. Roles focused on modeling, analysis, and paper writing tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions that require access to proprietary compute clusters or classified research environments are more likely to require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as an ai research scientist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a research internship or residency program while completing a graduate degree. Companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft Research operate structured research internship programs that frequently convert to full-time roles. Applicants without a PhD can target research engineer or junior research scientist titles as a stepping stone. A strong portfolio of open-source contributions, Kaggle competition placements, or preprints on arXiv demonstrably improves candidacy with California hiring teams.
Where can I find and apply to ai research scientist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to ai research scientist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and location, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 133+ AI Research Scientist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find AI Research Scientist Jobs